title: Group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the acceptability and feasibility of adapted group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder in a pilot randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 32 children aged 9-13 years were randomised to immediate or delayed therapy using the 'Exploring Feelings' manual (Attwood, 2004). Child and parent groups were run in parallel, for seven weekly sessions, under the supervision of experienced psychologists. The primary blinded outcome measures addressed change in overall functioning and in severity of the primary anxiety diagnosis after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children met diagnostic criteria for 1-6 anxiety disorders (median 3). At end point, both parents and children in the immediate therapy group were more likely to report a reduction in anxiety symptoms. Fidelity of delivery of the group therapy was high, and attendance was 91%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot trial established that children and families were willing to be recruited and randomised, the outcome measures were acceptable, the format and content of the groups were feasible within UK child and adolescent mental health services, the intervention was appreciated by families and attrition was very small.
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK helen.mcconachie@ncl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McConachie
authors.affiliation: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grahame
authors.affiliation: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honey
authors.affiliation: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavernor
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Cahley
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hemm
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steen
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Couteur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: anxiety; autism spectrum disorder; cognitive behaviour therapy; pilot randomised trial